Where Is Bell Aircraft Located?

The historic Bell Bomber Plant sits at 33.9175° N, 84.5128° W in Marietta, Georgia—just northwest of Atlanta. As of 2026, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics still runs the site from Dobbins Air Reserve Base.

Marietta lies in Cobb County, tucked into the rolling foothills of the southern Appalachians. The town sits within 20 miles of downtown Atlanta, putting the plant right next to rail lines, major highways, and a deep pool of skilled labor. Back in 1942, the U.S. government picked Marietta precisely to spread out aircraft production away from vulnerable coastal sites. That made the area a vital industrial hub during World War II. The Chattahoochee River also ran right past the plant, supplying plenty of water for everything from cooling systems to daily operations.

The Bell Bomber Plant reached its peak workforce of 28,158 employees in February 1945 and rolled out 663 B-29 bombers. Built at an elevation of 1,083 feet above sea level, the facility sits 15 miles southeast of Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. In 1943 the plant covered 2.4 million square feet—roughly 41 football fields—before shrinking after the war.

Built in just 16 months between 1942 and 1943, the Bell Bomber Plant was a wartime miracle. Atlanta firm Robert & Company designed the place, bringing mass-production techniques that were practically unheard of in the American South at the time. Nearly half the workforce were women stepping into industrial jobs for the first time. That wave of new labor nudged Georgia’s economy away from cotton and toward factories—a shift that kept going long after the war ended. The plant also trained thousands of workers from rural counties, proving Southern labor could handle the tight tolerances of aerospace work. After the fighting stopped, the facility sat idle until 1951, when Lockheed-Georgia reopened it. Today the original assembly hall still stands on Dobbins ARB, cranking out parts for the C-130J Super Hercules and F-22 Raptor.

No, the plant itself is off-limits because it’s still an active military site. You can, however, learn about its history just a few miles away. The Marietta Museum of History (3.2 miles from the original plant) runs free exhibits on the plant’s WWII role, complete with photos of women riveters and original blueprints. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday. For plane lovers, Dobbins ARB usually hosts an open-house weekend every October—weather and security clearance permitting. You’ll get to see aircraft up close and chat with pilots, but bring a government-issued ID and plan to arrive early.

Take I-75 North to Exit 269, which drops you right at Dobbins ARB. The base is a joint-use facility, so civilian access is mostly limited to special events. During open-house weekends, parking fills up fast, so give yourself extra time. Don’t forget your photo ID—base security checks IDs at the gate. Before you head out, check the Dobbins ARB official website for the latest access rules; gate closures and event schedules change often.

It was the sole source of B-29 Superfortress bombers for the U.S. Army Air Forces. Between 1943 and 1945 the plant churned out 663 of the long-range bombers that ultimately carried the war to Japan. That output made Marietta one of the biggest single-site contributors to the Allied victory, and it kept thousands of workers—including many women—employed in high-skill jobs.

The facility was designed by Robert & Company, an Atlanta-based architecture firm. The same team also handled the layout and construction, delivering a plant that could switch from hand riveting to full assembly-line production in a matter of months. Honestly, this is the best example of Southern engineering meeting wartime urgency.

In 1943 the plant covered 2.4 million square feet—about 41 football fields laid end to end. That footprint let Lockheed (then Bell Aircraft) stage every step of bomber assembly under one roof, from sheet-metal stamping to final test flights.

It was mothballed in 1945 and stayed dark until 1951. That’s when Lockheed-Georgia reopened the facility, first for C-130 Hercules production and later for classified programs. The original assembly building is still in use today, now cranking out parts for the F-22 Raptor and the latest C-130J Super Hercules.

In February 1945 the plant hit its all-time high with 28,158 workers on the payroll. Nearly half were women stepping into industrial jobs for the first time, and many came from rural counties across Georgia and Alabama.

The plant sits at 1,083 feet above sea level, putting it high enough to avoid most spring flooding from the Chattahoochee while still close enough to Atlanta’s rail and highway network.

It’s only 15 miles southeast of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. That short hop made it easy to fly in raw materials and fly out finished bombers without long overland hauls.

The Marietta Museum of History runs permanent exhibits on the Bell Bomber Plant. You’ll find period photos, tools, and blueprints that show how women riveters kept the assembly lines running 24/7. Admission is free, and the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday.

Yes—during the annual open-house event, usually held in October. Visitors can tour flight lines, climb into cockpits, and meet pilots, but you’ll need a government-issued ID and should arrive early. The event is subject to security restrictions, so always check the base website before you go.